Thermometer holder



C. W. MEINECKE ET AL May 19, 1925.

THERMOMMER HOLDER Filed'larcli 27. 1923 INVENTORJ C' firislz'a n Zlf meznec E g r/arc? Jain-son ATTORNEY-J Patented May 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT O F CHRISTIAN W. MEINEOKE AND EDWARD JOHNSON, OF EAST ORAN GE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO MEINEGKE & COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.., CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

THERMOMETER HOLDER Application filed March 27, 1923. Serial No. b28,023.'

To all ti/1072b it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHRIS IAN W'. ltlmmscnn and EDWARD JoHNsoN, citizens of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Thermometer Holders, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to a. new and improved form of thermometer holder or container for keeping clinical thermometers submerged in an antiseptic solution, and is more: particularly adapted for use in con-. nection with thermometers used in hospitals.

As is well known, when a patient has: used a clinical thermometer, it is necessary to have the same sterilized or immersed. in some antiseptic solution. 1

Devices have heretofore been made in an effort to accomplish this purpose,but all these devices are so constructed that only a partlof the thermometer is immersed.

Recently the State nursing boards of several' States have issued a rule or order to the effect that the entire thermometer should be immersed in the antiseptic solution before a second use.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a holder carrying a number of clinical thermometers, which can be. immersed and kept submerged in an antiseptic solution, and can be removed therefrom without the nurse for physician having to insert his or her fingers in the solution. Another object of the invention is to permit a number of clinical thermometers to be completely submerged without danger of breakage.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of a device embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is another view of a device showing the holder partly removed from the antiseptic liquid. i

Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof the holding device.

As will be seen from the accompanying drawings the device consists of a rectangw.

lar box or vessel 4 made preferably of enameled ware or other suitable metal having a cover 5 with a handle 6. Theai1- 1 tiseptic solution 7 is placed in this receptacle. The thermometer holder shown 1n figure 3 is a rectangular articleS stamped preferably from brass or similar material and nickle plated, andit can be stamped from one piece of metal. It has upturned sides 9, Apertures 10 are formed to allow the liquid to run through. Near each end of the holder a cut is made leaving openings 11 as a .further means for the liquid to run through. The cutout portion is bent up to form upright members, 12 andl'Z. at either end, one upright, 12, being preferably higher than the other, and in these upright portions are openings 13, in which the thermometers are placed, the mercury bulbs of the thermometer sliding into and resting in the grooves or recesses 13, and the entire holder containing the thermometers is submerged in the antiseptic solution. A handle ld is secured to the holder and extends above the level of the solution in the'receptacle, so that the user can by means of the handle lift the tray or holder out of the solution without putting his fingers in the solution.

1. It will be noticed that-the ends 15 and 15 of the holder are bent over, and rest on the bottom of the container,and the end 15 is also intended to be used as a hook which can be placed over one end of the receptacle as shown in Fig. 2. When the thermometers are placed on the holder they are placed with their upper or plain. end on the high member 12 so that tray or holder is lifted from the solution the upper end of the thermometer comes, out

first. It will be thussee-n that the solu tion runs off the upper end first (see Fig. 2) and the thermometer is practically dry when it is desired to use it and yet has been completely sterilized.

As indicated in the drawing the lower portion 16 of the holder is bent upwardly to form a stop and when the thermometer holder is in place on the vessel the bottom of the bulb strikes onthe stop to hold it inplace and prevent it from sliding downward. lVhen the thermometer is arranged on the holder it is inclined, the upper part being the highest the liquid will drain downward and itjcan be readily grasped when removing i'tfrom the holder.

We claim when the 1. In a device of the kind described the combination of a receptacle for holding an antiseptic solution, a clinical thermometer holder for insertion in said receptacle, said holder compr sing means for carrying a number of thermometers, means of Withdrawing the holder, apertures in the holder for draining off the solution, and means for hooking one end of the holder on the edge of the receptacle.

2. A thermometer holder having uprightmembers to hold a series of thermometers,

a stop eoacting with the lower end of the thermometers and apertures in the floor of the holder for allowing the passage of a solution.

3. A thermometer holder comprising a substantially rectangular frame, uprights near the ends of said frame, one of which uprights is higher than the other, openings 15 in said uprights for holding a thermometer, sides on said holder, and means on said holder for holding it on the edge of a liquid containing receptacle.

In testimony. whereof We have hereunto to set our hands in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHRISTIAN MEINECKE. EDWARD JOHNSON.

\Vitnesses 'MARGUERITE ALTOATER, WILLIAM MILLER. 

